OK, so here's my story. I was fat all my life, gained 70lbs, then gained a lot of it back. I'm unbelievable frustrated...

Anyway- I used to be really good and consistent with working out, but I just graduated 3 weeks ago and currently have a full time job that takes up my day from when i wake up (6am) to when I get home (6-6:30pm ish in LA traffic!). I"m in an office ALL DAY, pretty much

I get really tired when I get home, and I want to take like a 1-1/2 hour nap (because anything less than that will just NOT work for me!) but I don't know if that's a good idea.

What do you guys think? Do you have any tips to stay awake after work?

Try to squeeze in some exercise during work. Go for a walk during lunch, do squats in the bathroom, use the stairs, etc. Just by being outside for a little while during the day will lift your mood and energy level.

Does your work place have a gym? If so, take your workout clothes with you to work and make yourself go as soon as you get off. If not just fight the urge to go to sleep when you get home and start to workout immediately. Also I heard eating an apple makes you more awake, not sure if it's true or not. You could also listen to energizing music on your way home, anything that makes you want to move. Then, just think to yourself how much better you will feel after that workout, plus you'll sleep like a baby once it's all done.

Well, bike riding always woke me up. Riding home from work is even better. But it sounds like that's not a practical option for you.

A couple of things help me, and believe me, at 49 with 3 kids and a demanding fulltime job, I can feel DEAD at the end of the day and I always get extremely sleepy on the drive home--and it's only 10 minutes!.

First, I drink some cold water--8-16oz-in the later afternoon. Drinking throughout the day is essential, too. Dehydration is the most common cause of fatigue.

2nd, I change into work out clothes before getting in the car. I drop off the kids and never even get out of the car; I drive right to wherever I'm going to work out.

I cannot go home and hope to get in my workout. 9 out of 10 times, it just won't work. Going directly from work to workout "works" really well for me. And after I've moved for about 1 minute, the fatigue passes. Then I'm so glad I didn't let my bed call me to it again!!

Good luck.

Despite my tiredness, I always try to psych myself up for working out throughout the day. I think of it as "me time" and try to go over why I'm doing it and how healthy it is. Goods tunes on my mp3 player sure helps too.

Like mkculs suggested, drink some cold water. Sometimes I'll even run to the bathroom and splash my face a little bit (or if you have makeup on, use a paper towel). I always eat a snack in the afternoon to keep me going and it's also the fuel I use for the gym. Usually oatmeal or something, but sometimes fruit. Food gets my blood sugar back up.

Finally, move around your office if possible. When you feel that after lunch lag set in, go to the bathroom, chat with a coworker, stretch, go to the breakroom, hang by a fax machine and look like you're doing something important, lol. Anything to get you away from your desk, if possible. I simply go crazy if I can't get up from my desk about once an hour.

Maybe try waking up a little earlier and doing about a 30 min circuit workout? I find that even with my exercises I do over lunch...if I skip my early morning circuit I feel extra tired after work. Sitting in traffic doesn't help for sure, it definitely makes me extra tired. Because I have a 5 year old, I cannot just go home and sleep. I make dinner everyday which keeps me up and moving and then we go for a walk after dinner. Getting into a routing like this just keeps me going...I usually get out of my after work slump about 20 minutes after I get home (from sitting in traffic for 45 min).